Begin Resting Comfortably at Hadassah Hospital Where He Has Been Ordered to Remain 10-14 Days

Premier Menachem Begin is resting comfortably at Hadassah Hospital where he was admitted last Thursday night for treatment of what his doctors described as a small blockage of a vein supplying blood to his brain. He is receiving anti-coagulant drugs to prevent a recurrence and other medication. Begin was visited today by his long-time aide and confidant, Transport Minister Haim Landau, who told reporters afterwards that the Premier was in excellent spirits and would be up and about soon.

But his doctors have ordered him to remain in the hospital for 10-14 days after which he will require a period of rest at home. They advised that he should not be disturbed by visitors or matters of State and that only extremely important issues be brought to his attention while he is in the hospital.

Begin was hospitalized after complaining of giddiness and impaired vision, symptoms that apparently set in last Wednesday although he continued to carry his full work load through the next day. Dr. Asa Harel, director of the Hadassah Medical Center, offered a guarded prognosis today. He said Begin’s condition has passed the acute stage and was stabilized. He said that while the symptoms of giddiness and loss of balance would disappear over the next two weeks, it was too early to say whether Begin’s vision problem would be corrected during the recuperative period.

Harel said earlier that Begin had a “tiny” clot lodged in a vein four millimeters long. He underwent a brain scan and, according to Yediot Achronot today, he will undergo another later this week to determine the extent of brain damage. Harel and the medical team treating Begin noted that the Premier was admitted to the hospital “walking on his own two feet.”

Harel said this was the first time Begin has suffered an Illness of this kind. He stressed that it was not connected with the heart attack he had two years ago or the subsequent inflammation of the membranes surrounding his heart for which Begin was twice hospitalized after his election as Premier. Harel said Begin had instructed his doctors to make the details of his illness public. In addition to Harel, the medical team includes Dr. Mervyn Gottesman, a leading cardiologist, and Dr. Basil Lewis, Begin’s personal physician.